Turkish tennis player Zeynep Sönmez arrives at the Italian Open carrying growing confidence from a more productive clay-court swing, as she targets consistency, physical resilience and deeper runs against elite opposition at the WTA 1000 level.

Sönmez, who has steadily climbed the WTA Rankings this season, said the difference compared to last year lies in preparation, match volume and a clearer sense of control on clay.

The 22-year-old enters Rome in the main draw, reflecting both her improved ranking position and a season that has already included noticeable steps forward at major events, including the Australian Open.

She describes the clay season as “more efficient and more stable” than in 2025, pointing to increased match play and a better adaptation period as key factors behind her progress. While she avoids overcomplicating expectations, she believes her game is increasingly suited to the demands of the surface.

The physical strain of clay remains central to her thinking. Rather than setting result-based targets, Sönmez is prioritising durability through a packed schedule, especially with the European swing intensifying ahead of French Open.

Her approach is simple: stay healthy, stay on court, and let repetition build rhythm.

The memory of last season still lingers as a reference point rather than a setback. Early exits in qualifying rounds and a first-round loss at Roland Garros have become benchmarks for how far she has progressed since. This year, she returns to both events in a stronger position, with direct access to main draws and a clearer competitive identity.

“I want to take lessons from every match and improve within the tournament,” she said in reflecting on her goals. The emphasis, she adds, is less about a single result and more about sustaining performance across multiple matches, something she struggled to string together last season.

Exposure to top-ranked players has also become a regular part of her development. Training and competing in the same environment as players inside the top 10 and top 20, she said, no longer feels unfamiliar. Instead, it has become a standard part of life on tour, offering both tactical learning and mental adjustment.

Away from clay, her attention is already drifting toward grass, where Wimbledon remains her standout target. She describes the surface and atmosphere as unique, adding that she enjoys the transition despite the technical challenge it presents after the grind of clay.

Still, she is careful not to look too far ahead. The immediate focus remains Rome, where managing energy, avoiding injury and building match rhythm take priority over ranking points or long-term projections.

That ranking, however, continues to move in the right direction. Now inside the top 70, Sönmez downplays the numbers, saying she rarely follows them closely and prefers to receive updates from her team rather than track fluctuations herself. For her, the more important signal is internal: whether her level feels higher from week to week.

Behind the scenes, she credits her support system for keeping her stable through constant travel and competition. Her team, family and close circle, she said, provide the emotional balance required to handle the demands of the tour, particularly during the physically taxing clay stretch.

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Inter Milan secured their third Serie A title in six seasons on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Parma, sparking celebrations inside a packed San Siro and across the city.

Marcus Thuram opened the scoring just before halftime with a composed side-foot finish before Henrikh Mkhitaryan sealed the result in the second half to effectively clinch the Scudetto.

With three matches remaining, Inter hold a 12-point lead over defending champions Napoli and are 15 points clear of city rivals AC Milan in third.

The San Siro was awash in blue and black as fans celebrated the club’s 21st Italian league title, with thousands more gathering outside the Duomo in central Milan to mark the occasion.

The triumph caps a strong response to last season’s painful finish under head coach Cristian Chivu, who took charge last summer with limited top-level managerial experience and has since guided the squad through a composed and consistent campaign.

Less than a year after losing the 2025 title race by a point and falling 5-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, Inter are back at the top.

“Today, we are all happy, but we must not forget all the work accomplished, because it was very difficult to start again after the end of last season when we lost in all the competitions we could win,” Inter captain Lautaro Martinez said.

Chivu’s rejuvenating effect

Inter owe much of this success to Chivu, the club’s former player and a surprise appointment in June to replace Simone Inzaghi, who won six trophies and reached two Champions League finals in four seasons before leaving for a lucrative deal in Saudi Arabia.

With small steps and few new signings, Chivu has breathed new life into the side.

Inter can complete a league and cup double if they beat Lazio in the Coppa Italia final on May 13 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Juventus missed a chance to take third place in Serie A after a 1-1 draw at home with relegated Hellas Verona.

The Turin club moved three points clear of Como in the race for fourth place and a Champions League qualifying spot.

AC Milan had already surrendered their slim hopes of catching Inter, falling 2-0 at midtable Sassuolo.

Milan endured a difficult afternoon in Reggio Emilia, suffering a fourth defeat in their last seven matches.

Juventus remained two points behind Milan after struggling to break down Verona, who were relegated on Friday.

While Juve dominated possession, they fell behind when Domagoj Bradaric pounced on a poor pass and delivered a low cross that Kieron Bowie finished.

It was one of Verona’s only two shots on target. Bowie later forced Michele Di Gregorio into a save from distance in the final minutes.

Juventus, meanwhile, had 23 shots, with six on target.

Dusan Vlahovic equalized in the 61st minute with a free kick from 25 meters.

In Reggio Emilia, Sassuolo took the lead in the fifth minute through Domenico Berardi.

Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan side played with 10 men for most of the match after Fikayo Tomori was sent off in the 24th minute.

Armand Lauriente doubled Sassuolo’s lead in the 47th minute, and a series of substitutions from Allegri failed to change the outcome.

“I understand our fans’ frustration; we all want to secure Champions League qualification as soon as possible,” Allegri told DAZN.

“In these difficult times, we must keep our heads held high. We have three matches left, and with two wins, we’ll be in the Champions League.”

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Real Madrid delayed Barcelona’s title celebrations with a composed 2-0 win over Espanyol on Sunday, powered by a clinical second-half brace from Vinicius Junior that kept La Liga’s outcome on ice for at least another week.

Barcelona had been poised to seal back-to-back titles if Madrid slipped in Catalonia, but Alvaro Arbeloa’s side showed resolve despite an inconsistent run, trimming the gap to 11 points with four games left.

The title race now rolls into a decisive Clasico next weekend, where only a Madrid victory can extend the fight.

Madrid arrived under pressure, short of form and without injured star Kylian Mbappe, having won just three of their previous nine league matches.

Espanyol, meanwhile, were desperate for points in their battle to steer clear of relegation, but their resistance ultimately faded after the break.

The first half lacked cutting edge.

Vinicius came closest, striking the post with a deflected effort, while Federico Valverde and Espanyol’s Leandro Cabrera tested both goalkeepers in a tightly contested spell.

A flashpoint arrived when Omar El Hilali was initially sent off for a challenge on Vinicius, only for VAR to downgrade the decision to a yellow card.

Madrid found their rhythm early in the second half.

Vinicius broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, exchanging passes with substitute Gonzalo Garcia before gliding past defenders and finishing sharply at the near post.

He struck again 11 minutes later, this time with finesse, curling into the top corner after a clever backheel assist from Jude Bellingham.

The Brazilian’s double underlined his growing influence and silenced doubts about his partnership with Mbappe.

Madrid threatened more through Bellingham, Garcia and Franco Mastantuono, but two goals proved sufficient.

Espanyol’s struggles continued, extending their winless run to 17 matches.

They sit 13th, five points above the drop zone, with pressure mounting as the season winds down.

Elsewhere, Rayo Vallecano beat Getafe 2-0 ahead of their Conference League semifinal second leg against Strasbourg, while Celta Vigo boosted their European hopes with a 3-1 win over Elche.

Real Betis also strengthened their top-five push, easing past bottom-placed Oviedo 3-0.

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Arsenal stand 90 minutes from ending a 20-year wait for a Champions League final, but Atletico Madrid arrive in North London on Tuesday convinced the tie is still finely balanced after a tense first leg.

The semifinal remains locked at 1-1 after a chaotic night in Madrid, where three penalties shaped the story and left both sides with reasons to feel aggrieved.

Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez converted from the spot either side of halftime, while Arsenal were left fuming when a second penalty was overturned after a VAR review, a decision that drew a furious reaction from Mikel Arteta and animated protests from Diego Simeone on the touchline.

For Arsenal, the bigger picture still favors them.

Avoiding defeat away in a Champions League semifinal is a result most teams would take and back at the Emirates Stadium, Arteta’s side have both form and history on their side.

Unbeaten in this season’s competition, Arsenal can set a new club record of 14 consecutive Champions League matches without defeat if they reach the final.

Their domestic rhythm is equally convincing.

A fluent 3-0 win over Fulham at the weekend pushed them six points clear at the top of the Premier League and underlined a team playing with confidence and clarity at the right time.

Europe has also been kind to Arsenal at home, especially against Spanish opposition.

Only one defeat in their last 15 such matches paints a daunting picture for Atletico, who were also dismantled 4-0 by the Gunners earlier in the campaign, a result that briefly shook Simeone’s side before sparking a run of seven straight wins.

That resurgence has not translated into silverware.

Atletico’s season is drifting toward a familiar frustration. They have already lost the Copa del Rey final to Real Sociedad and sit comfortably in La Liga’s top four, but out of the title race as Barcelona pull away.

Simeone rotated heavily for the weekend trip to Valencia, making 11 changes, yet still watched his side secure a composed 2-0 win. It suggests depth and readiness, but also highlights how much hinges on Tuesday night.

Recent form offers mixed signals. Atletico have steadied themselves with two wins in their last three games, but that follows a damaging stretch in spring when they lost seven of eight matches, a slump that nearly derailed their season.

History gives them hope.

Atletico have advanced from six of their last 10 European knockout ties after drawing the first leg at home. They also carry psychological edge from eliminating Arsenal in the 2017-18 Europa League semifinals.

Team news adds another layer of intrigue. Bukayo Saka, influential again with a goal and assist against Fulham, was withdrawn early as a precaution and is expected to start. Arteta remains hopeful Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz will recover in time, though Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino are set to miss out.

Midfield balance could shift, with Martin Zubimendi likely to return after being rested, while Piero Hincapie is expected to slot back into defense.

For Atletico, relief surrounds Julian Alvarez, who limped off in the first leg but has avoided serious injury and is set to lead the attack. The Argentine continues to rewrite records, becoming the fastest from his country to reach 25 Champions League goals, surpassing Lionel Messi’s mark.

Several key players, including Antoine Griezmann and Marcos Llorente, were managed carefully at the weekend, but injuries to Pablo Barrios and Nico Gonzalez leave Simeone with fewer options in midfield, while Jose Gimenez remains a doubt.

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German giants Schalke completed their return to the Bundesliga after a three-year hiatus with a 1-0 home win over struggling Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday.

Top scorer Kenan Karaman grabbed the winner in the 15th minute for one of Germany’s best-supported clubs. Paderborn are the favorites to go up with Schalke.

“I can’t find the right words right now,” Karaman told broadcaster Nitro.

“We’ve waited a while for this moment. We had two difficult years. I’m incredibly grateful and incredibly proud. I truly wear this jersey with passion and pride,” he added.

Karaman’s 14 goals have helped fire Schalke back to the big time, while the January signing of Bosnia veteran Edin Dzeko gave them impetus for the run-in.

Goalkeeper Loris Karius – finding consistency after years of woe following his Champions League final debacle in 2018 – was also a key factor.

“(It feels) Good. Not bad! We wanted this win, we wanted to celebrate with the fans,” Dzeko told broadcaster Sky.

Asked whether he will be with the team for the much-awaited derby against Borussia Dortmund next season, he said: “Let’s see. First of all, we celebrate. I’m very happy to have decided in January to play here.”

On X, Dortmund posted a picture of an aircraft pulling a banner saying: “We’ve almost missed you.”

Former Cercle Brugge and Plymouth Argyle boss Miron Muslic was a surprise pick as coach but has masterminded promotion in his first season.

Schalke finished 10th and 14th in the previous two second-tier seasons, the latter of which was their lowest ever finish in the current German league structure adopted in 1963.

Fans will be slightly wary of their return to the top flight, given their last promotion in 2022 led to just one season in the Bundesliga before another painful relegation.

As recently as 2018, they had finished second in the Bundesliga, the seventh time Schalke have been runners-up.

But the Royal Blues have never won the Bundesliga title, although they did claim the German championship several times before the Bundesliga came into being.

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Australian rider Sebastian Berwick of Caja Rural–Seguros RGA won the overall title at the 61st Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye Sunday, sealing the turquoise jersey after eight stages across 1,133 kilometers.

The race concluded with a 105.2-kilometer Ankara-to-Ankara stage, marking the Turkish capital’s first time hosting the finish in 27 years.

Berwick, 26, who took the overall lead in Stage 6, secured victory with a total time of 26 hours, 34 minutes, 19 seconds.

Colombia’s Ivan Ramiro Sosa of Equipo Kern Pharma finished second overall, while Belgium’s Kamiel Bonneu of Solution Tech NIPPO Rali placed third.

Belgian rider Tom Crabbe of Team Flanders-Baloise won the final stage, completing the Ankara route in 2:11:35.

In addition to the overall turquoise jersey, other classifications were decided at the end of the race.

While Mustafa Tarakçı claimed the white jersey (Leader of Beauties of Türkiye Sprint Primes), Crabbe secured the green jersey (Best Sprinter), and Berwick also won the red jersey (Best Climber).

Team title for Astana

The Astana team won the overall team classification, with a roster including Lev Gonov, Davide Ballerini, Alessio Delle Vedove, Henok Mulueberhan, Matteo Scalco, Nicolay Vinokurov and Darren Van Bekkum finishing atop the standings.

Awards were presented by senior officials, including Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Hamza Yerlikaya, who handed the green and red jerseys to Crabbe and Berwick, respectively.

Symbolic finish

Speaking after the race, Vice President Yılmaz said Ankara’s return as a finish location after 27 years added symbolic significance to the event, noting that the course passed along landmarks including the Presidential Complex and Anıtkabir.

He said the race brought together athletes from 27 countries and showcased Türkiye’s geography, history and natural beauty to a global audience of millions, highlighting the unifying power of sport.

Yılmaz also emphasized the importance of promoting cycling among younger generations, citing its benefits for public health, the environment and social cohesion, and said next year’s event is expected to attract even broader participation.

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